SL2-S focus and ISO capability compared to SL2 and SL3

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19 hours ago, Tjazz said:

A very interesting journey and instructional for me in how to prioritize what matters most. I appreciate my SL2-S just a little more now and wonder if the megapixel race is starting to produce diminishing returns. For example some of my best work was done with a Q2 in the streets of Amsterdam nearly five years ago. And yet I traded it in and jumped on the Q3 train. A fine camera with its resolution and features, but it doesn’t negate the beauty of what I got from the Q2. 

Well, I put my money where my mouth is..Selling my minty hardly used M11 next week. It's a wonderful camera obviously but with the M11M, Q3, SL2-S and M7, I think it's a bit redundant. Picked up a Sigma 24mm F2 today but for my street work, I think zone focusing with M lenses be interesting and a bit of fun..Not the best travel camera but I have that covered.

What do we do when the Q3M comes? : )

Edited May 18, 2024 by Avatar

[Tjazz]

Well, you jump in the waiting line and analyze your kit until the moment of truth! I’m sticking with my SL2-S, Q3, and Q2 M. For now…

[Stuart Richardson]

With respect to the original question, I have shot with the SL2 for a few years and recently added the SL2S. I think this choice is often over-complicated. The SL2 is the best choice for high resolution work at low ISO, and the SL2S is the best choice for handheld work in low light or when maximum processing headroom is required. I would say that if you find yourself working at ISOs above 1600 or so on a regular basis, it probably makes sense to get the SL3 or SL2S, either as a main camera or a supplement. If you primarily shoot at low ISOs, the SL2 has superb detail and color and is still Leica's highest resolution body, at least until Leica brings multishot to the SL3. You can easily look this information up yourself if you use Lightroom. Looking at the SL2, over the last four years I am about 75% of the time at ISO 100-200, so unsurprisingly it has worked for me just fine.

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26 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

With respect to the original question, I have shot with the SL2 for a few years and recently added the SL2S. I think this choice is often over-complicated. The SL2 is the best choice for high resolution work at low ISO, and the SL2S is the best choice for handheld work in low light or when maximum processing headroom is required. I would say that if you find yourself working at ISOs above 1600 or so on a regular basis, it probably makes sense to get the SL3 or SL2S, either as a main camera or a supplement. If you primarily shoot at low ISOs, the SL2 has superb detail and color and is still Leica's highest resolution body, at least until Leica brings multishot to the SL3. You can easily look this information up yourself if you use Lightroom. Looking at the SL2, over the last four years I am about 75% of the time at ISO 100-200, so unsurprisingly it has worked for me just fine.

In a nutshell that's exactly it. As I have mentioned a few times, I am very late to the game with the SL line and am inspired to use it for my street photography at night..Something I've rarely done.

I'm surprised how good the SL2/SL2-S feels in hand for my style of work. I don't think I will use auto focus lenses with it for that as I shoot mostly zone with the M's. Can't wait to do so in the next couple of days with a 24mm Elmar or  Elmarit and 28mm's as well.

 

 

Edited May 19, 2024 by Avatar

[jaapv]

Maybe a good idea to try AF to give some real life experience to the zone focus discussion. 

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5 hours ago, jaapv said:

Maybe a good idea to try AF to give some real life experience to the zone focus discussion. 

I don't disagree. I took the SL2-S with Elmar 24mm M lens. Got decent results with zone focus but will take out the new Sigma 24 2.0 to see how autofocus works with decent light. I'm pretty exacting about this though and the Q3 is the first camera i feel comfortable with using auto focus.

I'm sort of making a problem when there isn't one as I am comfortable shooting zone on the M11 and autofocus with the Q3 but I can't help myself as there's so much I enjoy about using the SL2-S.

 

 

[st4u]

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On 5/17/2024 at 7:58 AM, Avatar said:

Well the 24-70 arrived today and is sold already with some  other gear I am dropping off tomorrow..I picked up a sigma 28-70 2.8 instead as the focal ranges work ok for me and it's small and light..for 24mm..I'm picking up a Sigma 24mm F2..I can't wait to try it and miss having an aperature ring for sure!

Hello Avatar,

thx for your thread. I followed after long time thinking about a SL2 (have an appreciated M10-D and SL)and bought also a good offer of a new SL2-S. I have a lot of M lemses and I want (only) one AF SL lens, too. I hesitate btw Leica 35mm SL normal or APO or Sigma 1.2.  I prefer primes.

How are you with your decision? Are you still happy? What would you have changed or did you change? Still happy with the Sigma 24-70 M ll or 28-70? Is it a replacement for a prime? 
regards Chris

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On 10/16/2024 at 4:31 PM, st4u said:

Hello Avatar,

thx for your thread. I followed after long time thinking about a SL2 (have an appreciated M10-D and SL)and bought also a good offer of a new SL2-S. I have a lot of M lemses and I want (only) one AF SL lens, too. I hesitate btw Leica 35mm SL normal or APO or Sigma 1.2.  I prefer primes.

How are you with your decision? Are you still happy? What would you have changed or did you change? Still happy with the Sigma 24-70 M ll or 28-70? Is it a replacement for a prime? 
regards Chris

I returned the zoom lenses and use either a 24mm 2.0 Sigma or Lumnix 50mm 1.8..I got a Lumix 20-60mm with the S9 I picked up but I have never used it. I shoot primarily with an M11M or Q3 but for the times I shoot with the SL2-S for work stuff I use the autofocus primes but for street, I generally use Leica 24mm or 28mm lenses..In sort, no zoom lense can replace a prime for me..Not to say that don't work well, it's just not what i use for a very long time!

 

[okanrua]

Which lens do you think is the fastest focusing one for sl3? Coming from nikon z8, i am trying to close the gap. Sl 90 apo is so so slow but 21 apo sl is much faster to focus. I only have these two lenses and i would like to add another lens, preferably a zoom that focuses the best. 

[Photoworks]

9 hours ago, okanrua said:

Which lens do you think is the fastest focusing one for sl3? Coming from nikon z8, i am trying to close the gap. Sl 90 apo is so so slow but 21 apo sl is much faster to focus. I only have these two lenses and i would like to add another lens, preferably a zoom that focuses the best. 

I feel all the APO lenses are ok, it all depends on what you are shooting, the face/eye detection for me works best if you are shooting people.
The 24-90 and 90-280 are good quality, but I don't  consider them slow or fast, in the same room of the APO's

It would be good to remember that complex construction with lots of glass are better quality but takes more to focus.

the Panasonic S lenses are very fast-focusing, but are not as exciting in image quality for photos, in video they work well for 4k.

But the choice of lenses should be about the right lens for the job, and the look you are after.

Lately, I have been using Sigma 50mm 1.2, it is fast and very accurate.

[okanrua]

Thank you. I am considering the 100-400 leica now. 

[jaapv]

The fastest and most accurate AF is on the Sigma 70-200 as it has twin AF motors. IQ wise it rivals the 90-280. 

[Ken Abrahams]

On 5/12/2024 at 8:36 AM, Avatar said:

I recently got an SL2 to use for a project..Didn't expect to like it so much but was excited to get an SL3 for the improved ISO and focus.

Got the SL3 last night and it's as expected but, it's a bit thicker and while less weight, I don't love the feel in the hand compared to the SL2

I never had a chance to use an SL2-S and am curious how much better the focus is as well as ISO compared to the SL2 and SL3.

I read non stop how much better the focus and ISO are for the SL2-s but wonder how it compares also to the SL3.

Anyone gone this path?

Thank you for reading!

 

I haven't read through all the comments however couldn't help but replying this late in the discussion. I have a couple of different workflows and ways I (try) add impressions to my images. So far the SL2S has shown that its files are well suited to my style of editing but not for everything. Obviously not for black and white work as the M10M covers that side. The SL3 is a fantastic camera and also suited to the 90-280 images or anything really. The SL2S is my favourite for sure but using the two cameras together (having a choice) is a great way to go. I have the SL2 for a back up unit and the 601 is retired to the cupboard. I dont think I will be looking at the SL3S, unless they ask me to Beta test it 😃 and I discover an unbeatable, "cant do without it function". I love the SL3 in many ways but also the SL2S.

Ken         

[RustyBug]

I dig on my SL2-S (for all the excellent reasons mentioned) ... I get called a bit to the SL3 for its resolution / tilt display.  But, I'm holding out hope to see what an SL3-S might bring to the table.

40MP (like my M10R) or 47MP (like my Q2), but with a new BSI (similar to SL2-S) and PDAF would make a strong potential for me to consider an SL3-S as the Swiss Army Knife of all-around cameras (M lenses > 500/5.6 Siggy).